SUZUKA, Japan: Triple world champion Max Verstappen clinched a commanding victory at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday, leading his Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez to a dominant one-two finish.
Verstappen, who had faced disappointment with a retirement in Australia two weeks prior, asserted control over the entire race at Suzuka after starting from pole position, securing his third win out of four grands prix this season.
The Dutch driver crossed the finish line with a comfortable margin of 12.535 seconds ahead of Perez, who secured second place, followed by Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz in third under dry and sunny conditions.
Verstappen showcased his exceptional prowess after a brake issue in Melbourne, where he retired from a race for the first time in two years. Starting from pole for the fourth consecutive time this season, he swiftly asserted his dominance by leading Perez through the first turn.
Expressing his affinity for the Suzuka circuit earlier in the week, Verstappen secured his third consecutive victory at the Japanese Grand Prix.
Sainz, who had celebrated victory in Australia, claimed third place ahead of his Ferrari teammate Charles Leclerc, who had started from eighth on the grid.
McLaren’s Lando Norris, the previous year’s runner-up, finished in fifth place ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.
In a battle for seventh place, Mercedes’ George Russell edged out McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, while Lewis Hamilton secured ninth place in the other Mercedes.
Yuki Tsunoda delighted his home crowd by securing the final points position in tenth place for Red Bull.
The race witnessed a red flag on the second lap following a collision between Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull and Alex Albon of Williams, resulting in both drivers crashing out of the race but thankfully escaping unharmed.
Following the race restart, Verstappen quickly resumed his dominant position at the front, leading Perez throughout the remainder of the race.
Verstappen temporarily relinquished the lead after pitting on lap 17, but he swiftly reclaimed the top spot just four laps later.
Verstappen and Perez maintained their positions, while Norris battled against the Ferraris for a podium finish, but a late lock-up dashed his hopes.
Sauber’s Zhou Guanyu retired due to a gearbox issue, while Williams’ Logan Sargeant briefly went off track but managed to resume racing.
The championship will resume in two weeks’ time with the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, marking the event’s return after a hiatus since 2019 due to the pandemic.
